February 17, 2003
Audio and selected quotes from Texas A&M head coach Melvin Watkins' media luncheon, held Monday at Cain Hall:
How disappointing was the loss at Colorado on Saturday?
"The way I look at that trip is that Colorado is a much improved basketball team, particularly at home. I was not necessarily disappointed with our effort. I thought offensively we had some great looks. There were some plays we should have made and we didn't get it done, but overall I thought our kids made the effort. Colorado is just a good basketball team. They have good basketball players and they were making some big time plays. We guarded them a few times and they just made the shots. We did change up our defense some to try to break their rhythm. They had 22 turnovers so we did some good things there. They shot 61 or 62 percent in the game. They had some shots, and I have to give them credit for that. Players stepped up making plays, and that is what you want to see."
What does your team need to do heading down the stretch in the Big 12?
"We've just got to take care of our business. We have enough games left to leap frog over some teams. If this was the last two games I might be looking at it a little different, but right now we still have enough games left to play to make a move up in the conference. That's our intention."
How important is it to win your last three home games?
"It is very important. That is something we have said all year long -- you need to try to defend your home court. With these last three home games, they are tough and critical games, games that we really need to try to focus in on and try to get and we will start with Iowa State."
Talk about how dominant Big 12 teams have been at home...
"I think it is a combination of things. The better teams, history will tell you, will always defend their home court. Teams are better there. When you get out on the road, it's a tougher challenge for you. Why is it like that? I think you have been indoctrinated since you were a junior high player about that home court advantage and what it means to win at home. As players, you hear it all the time. You have a comfort zone going into an arena where you have shot the ball quite a few times. We hope our home court give us something because we are trying to get every edge that we can get. Iowa State is a dangerous team as is any team in the Big 12. Refer to the Baylor win at Oklahoma State. The difficult part we have playing at home is that teams feel like they can come in here and get a win. Until we have some persistent winning here at home to get rid of some of that nonsense, that's what happens to us. We have to play a little harder than some teams, but those teams believe they can come in here and beat us."
You won at Iowa State last year. Does that have any carry over to this game?
"We have to make sure our kids don't think it's one of those games where you just lace it up and go out there and play because we beat them up there last year. To me they are a better team than last year and we know they are going to be hungry coming in here. We can't let our guard down thinking we beat them up there and now we have them at home. I think that would set us up for failure. We have to try to stay away from that."
What about your match ups with Iowa State?
"I think the match ups are good. They have big kids on the inside that concerns me a little bit. They rebound the ball well and they can block some shots. (Jake) Sullivan, we can't give him any good looks. I think we are matched up well."
Talk about the improved play of Bradley Jackson...
"I think he is becoming more comfortable. He is a senior in our program and, being a junior college transfer, sometimes it just takes those kids a while to make their adjustment. I think it is an ongoing process, particularly in his case. He's given us a lot of quality minutes, and we are beginning to expect that. He is expecting to do it now so that is a good problem to have."
Leandro Garcia-Morales has been playing more at the off guard spot...
"He has, and that wasn't something I had counted on coming into the season. As the season has evolved that is something that has moved in that direction, which means that Bernard is playing some point more than you probably would have seen before. Even Bradley's minutes are more than I would like to see him out there. He just needs a break because he plays so hard. Leandro has found that he is a little more comfortable in the outside position especially if he is getting pressured. That's where he is struggling a little bit."